Pescatarian for Christmas dinner - Gravy?

[IvyHollyberry]

This is taking up too much room in my head.

I’ve asked and they said they will eat around not to make a fuss just for them!

I’m going to have to make a little fuss otherwise they’ll be having a very dry plate of veggies and stuffing balls.

Will practice doing roast potatoes in olive oil and ditch the animal fat ones so we’ll all have those, no fuss.

Gravy needs to be special just for them - do I make this using fish stock, I’m not convinced it goes with sage & onion and cranberry sauce. I know the guest loves my homemade cranberry. Would veggie stock be better? Am overseas so can’t guarantee I can get a tub of pescatarian suitable ready made gravy.

Then I feel bad our guest will be eating only side dishes. Poaching or pan frying a fillet of fish is no trouble really. Not sure it will go with gravy thinking a herb or wine sauce may be better? Fish encroute could go only the guest dislikes pastry so that’s out.

Then I think I should add other vegetable sides that better go with fish? We usually have roast potatoes, honey roast parsnips, roast onions, carrot swede mash, boiled sprouts, carrots, baby potatoes, sage &onion stuffing balls and cranberry sauce. Also tempeh but guest dislikes texture so won’t have.

Then I think our guest will be uncomfortable that we’ve made too much fuss even though it’s not really a fuss and I should stick with olive oil roasted spuds and a pescatarian suitable gravy.

And around it goes in my head. Please make it stop, someone tell me what to do and then I don’t need to think about it until nearer the time.

Disagree. I’m vegan and I say it and I mean it and the OP is based on this. Not only that, but she says her guest would be uncomfortable if a fuss, by which I think she means an extra special dish, is made.

If she cooks the roast potatoes and another roast vegetables in olive oil, that’s absolutely fine. Everything but the meat is an entirely acceptable meal and, with a nice source or gravy, it’s perfect.

Perhaps you’re not vegetarian or vegan and don’t value meals that don’t have meat in them? I’ve eaten loads and they’re all great.

They are not a veggie. They are a pescetarian but obviously a vegetarian meal would be suitable.

I would advise avoiding fake meat unless you know your guest eats it. It's awful stuff.

For main, a bit of fish cooked in foil is probably the easiest option.

You can't be both pescetarian and vegan...

I’ve told loads of people that I’ll eat around their food and I’m genuinely fine with it. But it’s always nice to be offered something special (as long as it’s not fake meat eg veggie sausages) and I would always do that for a guest at Christmas.

Because why would you make any effort at all for a guest!
Aldi have absolutely delicious Coquilles St Jacques that take no time in the oven. And a ready made vegetarian gravy in a separate jug. Sorted. Have you thought about pudding?

Great idea. Love scallops.

OP if you do want to serve a fish dish for your guest then fish baked in passata works well. You can do just fish and passata but you can also add onions / spring onions, sliced peppers, sliced olives and top with a sprinkling of crushed nuts.

I've done a few versions of it (dinner party with one Muslim guest so it was easier to do fish for us all).

If you want a more detailed recipe google 'halibut Catalan' or 'Catalan fish stew'.

I have some individual casserole dishes to serve. The sauce means there is something to replace gravy and it sands up to roast veg.

I would tend to make them hollandaise sauce instead of gravy, really doesn't go with fish.

I'd use sunflower oil not olive- it can burn if you get it hot enough to roast potatoes in.

A lot of pescatarians also eat turkey etc at Xmas we’ve found - after making a lot of effort to do alternative dishes! Ask them what they will eat of the Xmas dinner but expect that them “eating round things” means they will “just have a little” turkey etc

DH is pescatarian and we are not. Take a trip to Cook or M&S, and buy Bisto vegetarian or onion gravy. Red Bisto is technically veggie too, but DH wouldn’t eat it as it tastes of something he doesn’t want to eat.

Then they're not pescatarian.

None of the pescatarians that I know eat turkey (or anything other than fish/seafood). That's what makes them a pescaratians.

Perhaps you’re not vegetarian or vegan and don’t value meals that don’t have meat in them? I’ve eaten loads and they’re all great.

There’s a big difference between proper ‘meals that don’t have meat in them’ (of which I have eaten many, too, having been vegetarian for 30 years) and meals which consist of a meat main course, but without the meat…not so great, and unimaginative, to say the least. I had to endure many meals where the only option was the dry veg left, after the meat or fish had been removed. Maybe grated cheese on top, if lucky! Things have moved on a bit, thank goodness!

Thank you for the further suggestions.

Good point about bisto maybe being meaty tasting, hadn’t thought of that.

I’ll make a vegetarian gravy perhaps onion, I’ve plenty of time to practice if I can’t find ready made here (Asia).

I have asked the guest what they would like and they won’t elaborate as they don’t want a fuss. Part of the problem is me wanting to make a fuss as I think they should have a main centrepiece dish and I just can’t get my head around no gravy on roasties or fish with the roast. For sure I was fixating on pescatarian equals must do fish.

I knew there was a solution I just couldn’t think of it. A nut roast really is perfect.

I think desserts will be ok, it’s homemade Christmas pudding or bought pandoro, also a jelly which they won’t be able to have but I don’t recall them choosing that option previously.

We do have a cheese course later and that’s reminded me I’ll need to pick up a vegetarian cheese.

Fish just does not go with the rest of a traditional Christmas dinner. Why not buy a pre prepared veggie option? Lots of nut roasts around. Aldi had some nice veggie ones yesterday (frozen) if they eat dairy? Aldi also do some nice vegan rosti which could work?

No need for different cheese if they aren't vegan.

I love the fact your phone knows how sweary you are and has autocorrected duck to fuck 🤣🤣

Some cheese is not vegetarian.

@Worriednanof1 yes, there can be a need for different cheeses if vegetarian, as many cheeses are made with animal rennet which is not vegetarian. In the UK most cheese is now made with a vegetarian alternative, but not all. French cheeses often are still animal rennet, as well as things like Parmesan.

Have you tried it? I too was doubtful but if you roast salmon in with the roast potatoes and parsnips, use good quality salmon that “ holds” and isn’t too fatty, honestly it works for me! I have carrots, sprouts, cauliflower, stuffing an’ all plus gravy or a very rich red wine sauce. Honestly don’t knock it till you try it! I’m a foodie I adore cooking and am extremely fussy.

I’ll double check the cheese ingredients to make sure, I thought they had to avoid rennet. I didn’t know that about British cheeses.

Then they're not pescatarians and they shouldn't be making people think they have dietary needs!

It's not wrong. I never ever mean 'ducking' ;)

Agree! I’ve been pescatarian over 25 years and would no more eat turkey than a steak.